Sphaerodactylus argus

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For the African species called ocellated gecko, see Pachydactylus geitje

Sphaerodactylus argus
Sphaerodactylus argus 01-Barbour 1921.jpg

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Sphaerodactylus
Species:
S. argus
Binomial name
Sphaerodactylus argus
Gosse, 1850[2]

Sphaerodactylus argus, also known commonly as the ocellated gecko, the ocellated sphaero, and the stippled sphaero, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is indigenous to the Caribbean. There are two recognized subspecies

Etymology[]

The specific name, argus, refers to Argus, the many-eyed giant in Greek mythology, an allusion to the ocelli (eye spots) of this species.[3]

Geographic range[]

S. argus is native only to Jamaica .[4] It is also found in Cuba and on adjacent islets, in the Bahamas, and in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. S. argus can be found in the Florida Keys, where it has well-established populations, though it was not native there.[1]

Habitat[]

The preferred natural habitat of S. argus is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 100 m (330 ft). A climbing species, it can also be seen on walls and in buildings.[1]

Diet[]

S. argus feeds on insects and other small invertebrates.[citation needed]

Reproduction[]

S. argus is oviparous.[5]

Subspecies[]

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[4][5]

  • Dunn & , 1950
  • Sphaerodactylus argus argus Gosse, 1850

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c , , , , Hedges B, (2017). "Sphaerodactylus argus ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T198439A2526550. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T198439A2526550.en. Downloaded on 26 February 2019.
  2. ^ Gosse PH (1850). "Description of a new genus and six new species of Saurian Reptiles". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Second Series 6: 344-348. ("Sphærodactylus Argus ", new species, p. 347).
  3. ^ , , (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Sphaerodactylus argus, p. 11).
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Sphaerodactylus argus, p. 144).
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Species Sphaerodactylus argus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading[]

  • Dunn ER, (1950). "Results of the Catherwood-Chaplin West Indies Expedition, 1948. Part 5. Amphibians and Reptiles of San Andrés and Providencia". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 102: 141–165. (Sphaerodactylus argus andresensis, new subspecies, p. 148).
  • Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 Plates, 207 Figures. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. (Sphaerodactylus argus, p. 269 + Plate 24).

External links[]


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